Salt and pepper shaker.



L w. LIVINGSTON.

SALT AND PEPPER SHAKER,

APPLICATION FILED AUG-.1, 1917.

1,267,564. I Patent ed May 28,1918.

E1 5 J7 3J6 ma W. LIVINGSTON, OF BBIDGEPORT, 0E0.

SALT AN D PEPPER SHAKER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 28, 1918.

Application filed August 1, 1917. Serial No. 183,959.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, IRA W. LIVINGSTON, a

citizen of the United States of America, and

resident of Bridgeport, county of Belmont, and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Salt and Pepper Shakers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates broadly to condiment containers, and more specifically to salt and pepper shakers.

The invention has for its primary object to provide a salt and pepper shaker consisting of a single container having separate compartments for the reception of salt and pepper.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the character mentioned in which a part or all of the contents of one compartment can be withdrawn without removing those of the other.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a salt and pepper shaker having separate compartments the open upper ends of which are covered by a rotatable cap de signed to remain permanently in place over the top of the device, and having means whereby the normal rotary movement of said cap is limited.

And a still further object within the contemplation of the invention is to provide a device of the character mentioned in which each of the compartments may be conveniently refilled without removing the rotatable cap.

With these and other objects in view, the

invention resides in the features of construction, arrangement of parts, and combinations of elements which will hereinafter be fully described, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a top plan view of the invention- 2 is a side elevation of the same;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the stationary cap-underlying disk;

Fig. 4 is a central vertical section; and- Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail view, in vertical section, showing the construction of the means for limiting the normal rotary movement of the cap.

Referring to said drawings, in which like designating characters distinguish like parts throughout the several views 1 indicates the outer wall and 2 the bottom of a container, preferably cylindrical in form, but which may have any other desired shape provided the topmost portion thereof be circular. The container may be made of glass, sheet-metal, or any other appropriate material. The interior of said container is divided into two equal, symmetrical compartments 3 and 4 by a vertical wall 5 of the same material as the outer wall 1 and preferably formed integral with the latter.

Fitted upon the upper end of the container is a sheet-metal disk 6 having its circumferential edge 7 bent downward and clenched into a groove 8 formed in the ex terior surface of the outer wall 1 near the upper end thereof, said disk being designed to remain permanently in place. Two adacent quadrantal openings are punched out of the disk 6, as shown at 9 and 10, Fig. 3, the same being disposed, when said disk is -m 1place, on opposite sides of the dividing wa l 5, and the other two quadrantal areas are perforated, as shown at 11 and 12 in said figure, with suitable sizes of perforations, such as those ordinarily used in the caps of salt and pepper shakers, the two separate areas 11 and 12 being located on opposite sides of said dividing wall.

Disposed in overlying relation to the disk 6 and having rotary movement with respect thereto is a circular sheet-metal cap 13 whose lower edge 13 isbent inward into slightly underlying relation to the edge 7 of the disk 6 for preventing removal thereof. A tongue 14 of metal extends downward and outward from a suitable point on the edge of the cap 13 and is then bent upward and shaped to form a tubular member 15. A quadrantal opening 16 is punched out of the cap 13 adjacent to the tubular member 15, a narrow unsevered tie 17 being left connecting the main body portion of the cap to the punchedout metal, and the latter is bent outward and downward, the downwardly directed portion being shaped to form a tubular member 19 which is telescopically received within the upwardly extending tubular member 15. The cap 13 is normally rotatable to positions wherein its quadrantal opening overlies either of the perforated areas 11 or 12 of the sheet 6, the telescoping cylinders 15 and 19 together constituting 'a thumb-piece by which rotation of the cap is facilitated.

Extending around substantially threefourths of the periphery of the wall 1 near the uppermost part thereof is a rib 20, the ends of which are designed to serve as stops against which the tongue 14 abuts for limiting the normal movement of the cap. The ends of said rib occupy such positions that when the tongue 14 is disposed in abutting relation to either end thereof the quadrantal opening 16 of cap 13 directly overlies one or the other of the perforated areas of the disk 6.

When it is desired to refill either of the compartments, thumb prespure directed upward against "the lower end of the member 15 will cause the member 19 to telescope therein, raising the tongue 14: to such position that it can be made to pass over the surface of rib 20, as clearly shown in Fig. 5, in which position the cap can be rotated until the opening thereof occupies a position directly overlying either of the openings 9 or 10 of disk 6, thus rendering unnecessary complete removal of the cap for the purpose of refilling the compartments.

lVhile l have described my invention more or less in detail, I do not confine myself to the precise construction shown in the drawings, but may alter any minor details of construction in so far as such changes mark no material departure from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is l. A salt and pepper shaker comprising a container divided longitudinally into two separate compartments, a stationary disk closing the open end of said container, said disk having a quadrantal opening and an adjacent quadrantal perforated area overly; ing each compartment, a cap rotatably disposed in overlying relation to said disk, said cap having a quadrantal opening therein, a tubular thumb-piece formed integral with said cap, and a rib extending partially around the periphery of said container near the uppermost portion thereof, the ends of said rib serving as stops against which said thumb-piece abuts for limiting the extent of normal rotary movement of said cap, said thumb-piece being adapted to be raised up and passed over said rib until the cap occupies positions wherein its opening directly overlies either of the quadrantal openings in said disk.

2. A salt and pepper shaker comprising a container divided longitudinally into two separate compartments, a stationary disk closing the open end of said container, said disk having a quadrantal opening and an adjacent quadrantal perforated area overlying each compartment, a cap rotatably disrea /sea posed in overlying relation to said disk, said cap having a quadrantal opening therein, a tubular member connected to a portion of the lower edge of said cap, a second tubular member mounted upon said cap and having its lower end telescopically received within.

the first-mentioned tubular member, a rib extending partially around the periphery of said container near the uppermost portion thereof, the ends of said rib serving as stops against which said first-mentioned tubular member abuts for limiting the extent of normal rotarymovement of said cap, said tubular members being adapted to be telescoped by upwardly directed pressure applied to the first-mentioned tubular member for allowing the latter to pass over said rib.

3. A salt and pepper shaker comprising a container divided longitudinally into two separate compartments, a stationary disk closing the open end of said container, said disk having a quadrantal opening and an adjacent quadrantal perforated area overlying each compartment, a cap rotatablydisposed in overlying relation to said disk, said cap having a quadrantal opening therein, a tubular member flexibly connected to a portion of the lower edge of said cap, ,a second tubular member mounted upon said cap and having its lower end telescopically received within the first-mentioned tubular member, a rib formed integrally with and extending partially around the periphery of said container near the uppermost portion thereof, the ends of said rib serving as stops against which said first-mentioned tubular member abuts for limiting the extent of normal rotary movement of said cap, upward pres- Mill sure against the lower end of said first-mentioned tubular member causing the last-mentioned tubular member to telescope therein, whence said members may be passed over said rib.

a. A salt and pepper shaker comprising a container divided longitudinally into two separate compartments, a stationary disk closing the open end of said container, said disk having a quadrantal opening and an adjacent quadrantal perforated area overlying each compartment, acap rotatably disposed in overlying relation to said disk, said cap having a quadrantal opening therein, a tubular member flexibly connected to a portion of the lower edge of said cap, a second tubular member mounted upon said cap and having its lower end telescopically received within the first-mentioned tubular member, a rib extending partially around the periphcry of said container near the uppermost portion thereof, the ends of said rib serving as stops against which said first-mentioned tubular member abuts for limiting the extent of normal rotary movement of said cap, each of the ends of said rib occupying such position that when said tubular member occupies abutting relation thereto the opening in said cap directly overlies one of the perforated areas in said disk, upward pressure against the lower end of said first-mentioned tubular member being adapted to raise the same and cause the last-mentioned tubular member to telescope therein, whence said members may be passed over said rib, thus permitting said cap to be rotated into a position wherein its opening overlies one 10 or the other of the quadrantal openings in said disk.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

IRA W. LIVINGSTON. Witnesses H. E; DUNLAP, W. F. KEEFER. 

